From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Memphis Commercial Appeal Dobson/SBC letter Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 22:53:46 -0400 (EDT) June 14, 1998 Memphis Commercial Appeal PO Box 334 Memphis, TN 38101 Dear Editors: We were very disturbed by David Waters' June 12 report on the Southern Baptist Convention and James Dobson's speech to the convention, beginning with Waters' assertion that the Convention had "rallied to defend Christianity." There are, after all, many varieties of Christianity, and many Christians who disagree with virtually all of the resolutions and statements from this Convention. For example, despite Dobson's assertion, a person supporting gay rights and believing that abortion should be legal is not by definition an atheist any more than a person opposed to legalized abortion and equal rights for sexual minorities is automatically a believer in God. Nor is it practical to characterize one moral system as "absolute" and any system with different values as "relative;" anyone can believe absolutely in any moral system, and many people believe absolutely in a system that promotes love and justice above all else. Finally, we must question the logic of a man who claims that "moral relativists" promote violence, but who also says that he approves of a resolution passed by the convention which states that: "The essence of combat is to use force against an enemy in order to kill, damage or destroy...a purpose and essence aligned with the male role." Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 15 congregations and organizations and 58 clergy from 15 religious traditions. If you are in the general Philadelphia area and represent a congregation or religious organization or are clergy, let us know if you want to be added - all faiths are welcome. We will also be happy to help start similar organizations in other areas. -- Interfaith Working Group Religious organizations, congregations iwg@libertynet.org and clergy supporting gay rights, http://www.libertynet.org/iwg/ reproductive freedom, and the 215-235-3050 separation of church and state.